Valuable document or security document comprising a switch

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to a value or security document which includes a circuit  2, 3, 4, 5, 6  which is provided with a break adapted to be closed by a conducting element  8  and/or by forming the document along a folding line  7.

This invention relates to a value or security document and to a methodof manufacturing a value or security document.

It is known from the prior art to provide value or security documents,such as bank notes, identity cards, driver's licenses, postage stamps,entry tickets, value stamps, credit cards, check cards, stocks,packaging materials and the like with security features which makecounterfeit or unauthorized alteration of such documents difficult, ifnot altogether impossible. The term “document” is furthermore in thissense also understood to mean a product which is provided with acorresponding security feature.

Watermarks are one such known security feature. Such watermarks arevisible in backlight and then exhibit a particular motif or numeral,such as the denomination numeral of the relevant bank note.

A further security feature is the security thread. In this case thesecurity check involves holding the document up to a light source to seea darker line in backlight.

It is also known to apply special foil strips with security features,such as holograms. The holograms allow, for example, different symbolsor numerals to appear when a bank note is tilted, depending on the angleof observation.

The use of nacreous strips is also known for the production of securityfeatures. When the bank note is tilted a, for example, gold-coloredstrip becomes visible in which a symbol and the respective denominationnumeral can be discerned. There is a nacreous strip of this type forexample on the 20 Euro bill.

From U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,039 a printed document as, for example, alottery ticket, is known, which includes a thermochromic layer. Thethermochromic layer is applied over data printed on the document. Forauthentication, heat is applied to the thermochromic layer such as bycontacting it with a finger. When the document is genuine, a reversiblecolor change will take place.

From U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,915 a security document having a thermochromicmaterial printed thereon is known. The thermochromic material is heatedby a rubbing action, whereupon a corresponding security feature appears.

The above-named security features, which are known from the prior art,are “public features”, i.e., security features which can be checked byanyone without the aid of special devices and without particularknowledge being required.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved value orsecurity document and an improved method of manufacturing a value orsecurity document.

The object underlying the present invention is respectively achieved bythe features of the independent patent claims. Preferred embodiments ofthe invention are given in the dependent patent claims.

With the invention it is possible to produce a value or securitydocument with a switch. The switch is preferably realized such that atleast one of the conducting tracks of an electric or electronic circuitapplied to the value or security document is interrupted. By closingthis break, the security feature provided by the circuit is activatable.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the break is closed by aconducting element situated on the value or security document itself.For this purpose, the value or security document has a formablesubstrate. The conducting element is arranged on the value or securitydocument in such a way that by suitably forming the document, that is,as by kinking, folding or bending, the conducting element can be placedover the break to close the break electrically. This closes a circuitmounted on the value or security document, thereby activating a securityfeature.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention the break isclosed by means of an external conducting element. Preferably, the sizeof the break is selected so that the break can be closed with a coin.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention a source of supply ismounted on the value or security document. This may be a battery, asolar cell or an antenna, for example. The source of supply serves tosupply power to a transducer constituting the safety feature of thevalue or security document. The transducer may be designed to issue avisual, audible and/or electromagnetic signal.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention the value or securitydocument has a substrate layer made of paper or plastics. This isparticularly advantageous for ease of formability of the document inorder to close the break by means of a conducting element held on thedocument.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention one, several or all theelements of the circuit, in particular the conducting element forclosing the break, are printed on the value or security document bymeans of a printing technique. Printing techniques especially suited forthis purpose include ink jet printing, screen printing, letterpressprinting, intaglio printing and planographic printing. Suitableelectrically conducting printing inks are per se known from the priorart (cf. Hans Hofstraat “Will Polymer Electronics Change the ElectronicsIndustry?”, Polytronic 2001, Conference Proceedings).

The production of solar cells on thin films is also known per se fromthe art (cf. “Plastic Solar Cells”, Adv. Funct. Mater. 2001, 11, No. 1,February, pages 15 to 26).

In this context, it is of particular advantage that an active or passivesource of supply on the value or security document is capable ofrealizing a system that forms an integral part of the value or securitydocument. This is the case particularly when the corresponding circuitis applied, at least in part, on a substrate of the value or securitydocument using a printing technique. This also enables comfortablehandling of the value or security document, particularly when applied tobank notes and other documents that are usually kinked, bent or folded.

Furthermore, particular securing against counterfeiting is therebyprovided because a circuit applied to the value or security document bya printing technique is extremely hard to duplicate or alter, if notaltogether impossible.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention at least twocircuit patterns, which are separated from one another by a break, areprinted on the value or security document. By forming the document, thetwo circuit patterns can be superimposed in such manner that contact ismade and a functional electrical or electronic component is provided.

In this manner, a coil, for example, can be realized on the value orsecurity document. To accomplish this, two coil winding halves areprinted on the document separate from each other. The coil windinghalves are separated from each other by a line suitable for kinking,bending or folding. This enables the document to be formable in suchmanner that the two coil winding halves can be superimposed, thusproducing a coil while at the same time activating the relevant securityfeature. In the case of a coil this security feature is, for example, amagnetic field produced by the coil which can be checked as by means ofa Hall probe.

Alternatively, a coil is realized by printing individual conductingtracks on the document in a diagonally offset relation to each other.When the document is folded, each of the conducting tracks then makescontact with the end of a diagonally opposite conducting track. In thismanner, each of the conducting tracks becomes one turn of the coil thusproduced.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in moredetail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawing. Inthe drawing,

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a first embodiment of a value orsecurity document of the invention with a folding line for closing acircuit arranged on the document;

FIG. 2 is a view of a second embodiment of a value or security documentof the invention with a circuit provided with a break adapted to beclosed by a coin;

FIG. 3 is a view of another embodiment of a document of the inventionwith an electroluminescent security feature;

FIG. 4 is a view of still another embodiment of a value or securitydocument of the invention with an electrochromic security feature; and

FIG. 5 is a depiction of the manufacture and mode of operation of a coilrealizable on a value or security document by a switching operation.

FIG. 1 shows a value or security document 1 with a source of supply 2and a transducer 3.

The source of supply 2 is connected to a port of the transducer 3 via aconducting element 4. The transducer 3 has its other port connected to aconducting element 5. The source of supply 2 is also connected to aconducting element 6.

The document 1 has a substrate made of paper and/or a plastics film.This substrate has a folding line 7 extending below the conductingelement 6. An end region 8 of the conducting element 6 is therebydefined.

The source of supply 2 may be an active or a passive source of supply,that is, a battery, solar cell or antenna, for example. The source ofsupply 2 serves to supply electrical energy to the transducer 3. Thetransducer 3 operates to transform the electrical energy to another formof energy as, for example, light, an acoustic wave, an electromagneticwave or an electric or magnetic field.

The transducer 3 may be a light-emitting diode, preferably an organiclight-emitting diode. The manufacture of printable, organiclight-emitting diodes, called OLEDs, is known per se from “OLED MatrixDisplays: Technology and Fundamentals”, Polytronic 2001, ConferenceProceedings, Oct. 21-24, 2001.

The transducer 3 may also be a device referred to as a foldingloudspeaker. The manufacture of a folding loudspeaker is also known perse from the prior art (http://www.heise.de, notice dated Apr. 27, 2001“Faltlautsprecher für die Hosentasche”).

The transducer 3 may furthermore include a coil for producing a magneticfield that is detectable by means of a Hall probe. In principle, anyphysical and/or chemical processes may be used for transforming theelectrical energy supplied by the source of supply 2 to another form ofenergy detectable from outside.

With the transducer 3 a security feature is thus realized on thedocument 1, for example, by a flashing LED, by providing an audiblesignal or by generating a magnetic field.

In initial condition the electric circuit of the document 1, which iscomprised of the source of supply 2, the transducer 3 and the conductingelements 4, 5 and 6 is open, so that the transducer receives no electricpower, being hence deactivated. To check the security feature it is thusnecessary for this circuit to be closed.

This is accomplished according to the invention by folding the document1 along the folding line 7 so that the end region 8 occupies theposition identified by 8′, making contact with the conducting element 5.In this manner the circuit is closed and the transducer 3 is activated.It is then possible to check the security feature.

Preferably, at least the conducting elements 4, 5 and 6 are printed onthe document 1 by means of conducting printing ink. The source of supply2 and/or the transducer 3 may be produced, for example, on a thin filmthat is applied to the document 1. Alternatively, it is also possiblefor the source of supply 2 and/or the transducer 3 to be realized bymeans of various printing inks using one or several printing passes.

To establish contact between the respective ends of the two conductingelements 5 and 8, the ends of the conducting elements 5 and 8, which areto establish contact, are routed to the surface of the document 1, beingthus exposed. In a preferred embodiment at least partial regions of theremaining circuit elements (the transducer 3, the conducting elements 4and 6, the source of supply 2 and those regions of the conductingelements 5 and 8 that do not comprise the contact-making ends) arecovered by a protective coat not shown. This protective coat istransparent in one region of the transducer 3, so that an emission ofelectromagnetic radiation, for example, is visible or detectable throughthe protective coat. In another embodiment the protective coat istransparent in the region of the source of supply 2, particularly incases when the source of supply is a solar cell. The protective coatpreferably consists of plastics material. In those regions where thecontact-making ends of the conducting elements 5 and 8 are disposed, theprotective coat has apertures to enable these ends to be exposed. In afurther embodiment the protective coat may also be a printed layer.Advantageously, the protective coat is constructed as an insulatinglayer. In still another embodiment the protective coat may also becomposed of several layers. In a preferred embodiment the protectivecoat is printed or laminated-on subsequent to applying the circuit.

FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the document 1. In thisembodiment the source of supply 2 and the transducer 3 areinterconnected by means of a conducting element 9. The source of supply2 is further connected to a conducting element 10, and the transducer 3to a conducting element 11. The conducting elements 10 and 11, ratherthan making contact, are spaced from each other, so that the circuit ofthe document 1, comprised of source of supply 2, transducer 3 and theconducting elements 9, 10 and 11, shows a break. Hence the transducer 3receives no electrical energy and is therefore deactivated.

To check the security feature the break between the conducting elements10 and 11 is closed as by means of a coin 12. To accomplish this, thedistance between the conducting elements 10 and 11 is dimensioned toenable a user to place the coin 12 over the break without difficulty tocomplete the electric circuit. For greater clarity of illustration, theends of the conducting elements 10 and 11 lying underneath the coin 12are drawn in broken lines.

Similar to the embodiment explained with reference to FIG. 1, in apreferred embodiment provision is made for a protective coat, not shown,which, with the exception of the contact-making ends of the conductingelements 10 and 11, covers the elements of the circuit at leastpartially, providing protection against environmental influences. Theseends of the conducting elements 10 and 11 are thus exposed. In theregions of the contact-making ends of the conducting elements 10 and 11the protective coat is accordingly provided with apertures. Similar tothe protective coat referred to in the foregoing, this protective coatmay be constructed as a plastics layer or printed layer, preferably ofthe insulating type. In a further embodiment the protective coat mayalso be partially transparent. Another advantage of the protective coatis that it prevents accidental contact between circuit elements that arenot intended for contact making, so that short circuits are avoided.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the document 1 with anelectroluminescent security feature. To realize this security feature anelectroluminescent layer 13 is provided in the transducer 3. Theelectroluminescent layer may be applied as by printing using a printingink with electroluminescent pigments.

The arrangement of the conducting elements 9, 10 and 11 on the document1 is equivalent to the arrangement of FIG. 2.

With the document 1 in the condition identified by 1′, the break betweenthe conducting elements 10 and 11 is again closed by a coin, so that thecircuit is completed. Across the electroluminescent layer 13 a voltageis then present which generates an electric field exciting theelectroluminescent pigments in the layer 13 into emitting light. Byclosing the break between the conducting elements 10 and 11 using a coinor the like, it is thus possible to check the document 1 forauthenticity.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the document 1. In this embodimentthe transducer 3 has a layer 14 that includes an electrochromic dye.This means that the layer 14 undergoes a color change as soon aselectric current flows. The layer 14 may be applied by printing using aprinting ink with electrochromic properties.

When the break between the conducting elements 10 and 11 is closed by acoin 12, an electric current is allowed to flow causing the color of thelayer 14 to change. From this color change it can be concluded that thedocument 1 is genuine.

FIG. 5 shows a value or security document 15 on which a coil isrealized. The further elements of the circuit of the document 15 are notshown in FIG. 5 for the sake of clarity of illustration. The coil iscapable of fulfilling various functions in the circuit of the document15. For example, the coil may be part of a resonant circuit or serve toproduce a magnetic field.

The document 15 has a folding line 16 or a folding zone 16 along whichthe document 15 is preferably weakened to allow easy folding, bending,rolling or kinking. The folding line 16 defines at the same time thelongitudinal axis of the coil.

The coil comprises an “unwound” winding 17 which is printed on thedocument 15 over the folding line 16 by means of an electricallyconducting printing ink. The coil winding 17 is comprised of individualconducting tracks 21 separated from one another electrically andarranged in parallel diagonally along the folding line 16, so that endregions 19 of the conducting tracks lie opposite each other in pairswith respect to the folding line 16.

An electrically insulating layer 18 is then printed over the coilwinding 17 by means of an electrically insulating printing ink. Thislayer 18 covers the coil winding 17 along the folding line 16, leavinghowever the end regions 19 of the conductors of the coil winding half 17free.

Preferably, a layer 20 of printing ink with magnetic particles isfurthermore printed on the layer 18. The magnetic particles arepreferably particles of high permeability. The layer 18 serves forelectric insulation of the layer 20 from the conducting tracks of thecoil winding half 17 lying underneath.

In the condition illustrated in FIG. 5 the coil is not operative becausethe individual conducting tracks of the coil winding 17 are not incontact with each other. However, when the document 15 is folded or bentalong the folding line 16, opposite lying conducting tracks of the coilwinding half 17 make contact in pairs, thus producing a coil-shapedclosed line enveloping the layer 20. This closes the circuit of thedocument 15 while at the same time the coil is realized. With thecurrent flowing, the coil produces a magnetic field that may be used forchecking the authenticity of the document 15.

Alternatively, the possibility also exists to print two coil windinghalves on the document 15, with the coil winding halves being separatedfrom one another by a folding line; by folding the document along thefolding line the two coil winding halves are then superimposed,resulting in a coil.

In the embodiments of the invention described with reference to FIG. 3,FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 provision may be made again for one or several similarprotective coats.

By referring to the embodiments indicated in the foregoing it ispossible to obtain a value or security document that includes a publicfeature security element.

Corresponding approaches may be used to realize any other electrical orelectronic components, which include printing conducting patterns on thedocument which do not make contact with each other unless the documentis formed in a predetermined fashion, resulting in a functionalcomponent.

List of Reference Characters

-   Document 1-   Source of supply 2-   Transducer 3-   Conducting element 4-   Conducting element 5-   Conducting element 6-   Folding Line 7-   End Region 8-   Conducting Element 9-   Conducting Element 10-   Conducting Element 11-   Coin 12-   Electroluminescent Layer 13-   Layer 14-   Document 15-   Folding Line 16-   Coil Winding Half 17-   Layer 18-   End Region 19-   Layer 20-   Conducting Tracks 21

1. A value or security document, characterized in that said value orsecurity document includes a circuit (2, 3, 4, 5, 6; 9, 10, 11; 21) andsaid circuit is provided with a break adapted to be closed by aconducting element (8; 12; 21).
 2. The value or security documentaccording to claim 1 wherein said conducting element (8; 21) is situatedon the document and said conducting element is movable across the breakby forming the document.
 3. The value or security document according toclaim 2 wherein said document forming operation involves a kinking,bending, rolling and/or folding process.
 4. The value or securitydocument according to claim 3 wherein said value or security documenthas a predetermined kinking, bending and/or folding line or a kinking,bending and/or folding zone (7, 16) along which the forming operationessentially takes place.
 5. The value or security document according toclaim 4 wherein said predetermined kinking, bending and/or folding lineor kinking, bending and/or folding zone is constructed in such mannerthat the forming operation is essentially reversible.
 6. The value orsecurity document according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 5wherein said break is constructed to be closable by an externalconducting element (12).
 7. The value or security document according toclaim 6 wherein the external conducting element is a coin (12).
 8. Thevalue or security document according to claim 1 wherein a securityfeature is activatable by closing the break with the conducting element.9. The value or security document according to claim 8 wherein saidsecurity feature is realized by a component designed to issue a visualand/or audible and/or electromagnetic signal.
 10. The value or securitydocument according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, 8 or 9wherein provision is made for a protective coat on at least one sectionof the circuit, said protective coat having an aperture in the region ofthe break so that the break is exposed.
 11. The value or securitydocument according to claim 1 with a source of supply wherein saidsource of supply is a battery and/or a solar cell and/or an antenna. 12.The value or security document according to claim 11 wherein said breakis designed in such manner that the security feature is activated byclosing the break with the conducting element.
 13. The value or securitydocument according to claim 1 with a first circuit pattern (19) and witha second circuit pattern (19) which are separated from one another bythe break and superimposable one upon the other by forming of thedocument so that the break is closed.
 14. The value or security documentaccording to claim 13 wherein said first circuit pattern and said secondcircuit pattern result in a coil subsequent to the document formingoperation.
 15. The value or security document according to claim 1 witha substrate made of paper and/or plastics film.
 16. The value orsecurity document according to claim 15 wherein one or several elementsof the circuit, in particular the conducting element, are printed ontothe document by means of a printing ink.
 17. A method of manufacturing avalue or security document, said method comprising the steps ofproviding a substrate; printing a circuit onto said substrate, saidcircuit having a break and said break being closable by a conductingelement.
 18. The method according to claim 17, which comprises applyinga protective coat to at least one section of the circuit, said coathaving apertures in the region of the break causing the break to beexposed.
 19. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 17or 18, which for printing the circuit comprises printing a first circuitpattern and a second circuit pattern which are separated from oneanother by the break so that by forming of the document the firstcircuit pattern and the second circuit pattern are superimposable oneupon the other.
 20. The method according to claim 19 wherein said firstcircuit pattern is a first coil winding half and said second circuitpattern is a second coil winding half, with a layer of insulatingprinting ink being printed over a region of the coil winding halves. 21.The method according to claim 20, which comprises printing on saidregion a layer of a printing ink with a magnetic property, preferably aprinting ink with particles of high permeability.